Post by sillierthings on Apr 26, 2015 21:38:31 GMT
So, what I know about wolf behavior come directly from my numerous rereadings of "Julie of the Wolves" when I was in elementary school, so I'm willing to admit what I say here is not necessarily scientifically sound. HOWEVER, in discussions about Sansa and Sandor's interactions, one of the things that gets mentioned (by Katie, I know, very recently) is how Sandor never touches her in an inappropriate manner. Generally speaking, he touches her shoulder and her chin.
So, one of the things that I remembered from Julie of the Wolves, was how the wolves would bite the chin of the pack leader to show respect and affection. Julie is able to ingratiate herself with the wolfpack partly because she mimics this behavior.
I'm just thinking about Sandor telling Sansa the story of the three dogs of his sigil:
He then finishes their interaction with the following statement, directly comparing himself to a dog and inviting her to "take a good whiff" like the wolf she is. If a dog can smell a lie, his metaphor is including Sansa or inviting her to take part in this canine behavior.
A dog can smell a lie, you know. Look around you, and take a good whiff.
Despite the fact that Sandor's actions ARE aggressive. He pinches her chin and makes a suggestive comment re: the song. All the same, if you are viewing this as dog or wolf behavior, he's actually put Sansa in the dominant position by gripping her chin and tilting it up.
One other wolf behavior that maybe you can see being mimicked in their interactions is the shoulder touching.
When they encounter Boros:
And when Sansa first encounters the Hound in GOT, backing into him, she feels his hands upon her shoulders and thinks he is her father, the dominant male of her "pack."
During the Battle of Blackwater, Sansa is on her back, belly up if you will and subordinate, while the Hound has her by the throat. She goes submissive, fearing for her life, until the Hound lets her go.
I don't know. It may all mean nothing, but it seemed like it COULD be there
.
So, one of the things that I remembered from Julie of the Wolves, was how the wolves would bite the chin of the pack leader to show respect and affection. Julie is able to ingratiate herself with the wolfpack partly because she mimics this behavior.
I'm just thinking about Sandor telling Sansa the story of the three dogs of his sigil:
"I like dogs better than knights. My father's father was kennelmaster at the Rock. One autumn year, Lord Tytos came between a lioness and her prey. The lioness didn't give a shit that she was Lannister's own sigil. Bitch tore into my lord's horse and would have done for my lord too, but my grandfather came up with the hounds. Three of his dogs died running her off. My grandfather lost a leg, so Lannister paid him for it with lands and a towerhouse, and took his son to squire. The three dogs on our banner are the three that died, in the yellow of autumn grass. A hound will die for you, but never lie to you. And he'll look you straight in the face." He cupped her under the jaw, raising her chin, his fingers pinching her painfully. "And that's more than little birds can do, isn't it? I never got my song."
He then finishes their interaction with the following statement, directly comparing himself to a dog and inviting her to "take a good whiff" like the wolf she is. If a dog can smell a lie, his metaphor is including Sansa or inviting her to take part in this canine behavior.
A dog can smell a lie, you know. Look around you, and take a good whiff.
Despite the fact that Sandor's actions ARE aggressive. He pinches her chin and makes a suggestive comment re: the song. All the same, if you are viewing this as dog or wolf behavior, he's actually put Sansa in the dominant position by gripping her chin and tilting it up.
One other wolf behavior that maybe you can see being mimicked in their interactions is the shoulder touching.
(3) Shoulder touching - The dominant wolf puts his muzzle on top of the shoulders of a subordinate. If the desired subordination effect isn't achieved the dominant wolf will rear up and put his paws on the subordinate's shoulders. This behavior has some very direct relevance to the common problem of dogs jumping up on his owner. If the owner is dominant in the social hierarchy, then the dog is psychologically incapable of jumping up and putting his paws on the owner. (x)
When they encounter Boros:
The Hound laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Paint stripes on a toad, he does not become a tiger."
And when Sansa first encounters the Hound in GOT, backing into him, she feels his hands upon her shoulders and thinks he is her father, the dominant male of her "pack."
During the Battle of Blackwater, Sansa is on her back, belly up if you will and subordinate, while the Hound has her by the throat. She goes submissive, fearing for her life, until the Hound lets her go.
I don't know. It may all mean nothing, but it seemed like it COULD be there
.